Next, take your plastic cup and punch three holes in it- evenly spaced around the top of the cup.Ĭut three rubber bands in half and tie them through the holes in the cup. Then connect them with a rubber band in the center on top. Add one at a time going upward from each corner of the first triangle. Then the next three dowels you also attach as a triangle, but standing up like a tepee or a pyramid. Use three of the wooden dowels and make them into a triangle by attaching the corners with rubber bands. Let’s start with building the catapult frame, or the base of the catapult. Small balls, balls of paper, pom poms, or jumbo marshmallows to launch (No glue guns required for this one!) Supplies to Build a Catapult:Ħ wooden dowels (ours are 3 ft long) You can get these at Walmart, the craft store or the hardware store. I promise you when I say this is an easy project! With just looking at a picture, I’d bet you most kids (upper elementary on up) could easily make this. This type of catapult we are making is closest to a Ballista catapult. History: Catapults have been around for thousands of years! There is so much cool history you could delve into here. You could change the weight and size of the ball you use to catapult and test to see if it goes a different distance or height. When the energy is released and you launch a projectile, it is now kinetic energy. When you pull back the cup you are creating potential energy. You can teach about kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (stored energy) with the process of pulling back and releasing. Science: This is awesome for a physics lesson on Newton’s laws of motion. Teaching kids how catapults work along with just how to build it is important to make the STEM connections in this activity.Įngineering: You are learning how to build a catapult that will stay together and work well. But, this one way cooler than those little popsicle stick catapults you have probably seen before! This project is great for older kids and younger kids alike.Ī building a catapult is an awesome STEM activity because kids are learning so many things! Catapult Learning Connections: DIY Catapults are a classic STEM activity. Making this homemade catapult is really quite easy and is a fun activity for kids of all ages! I can’t wait to show you. Have you always wanted to learn how to build a catapult? Yes? I thought so… me, too.
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